“Break off the engagement? What do you mean by that?”

“I know you made this unsuitable marriage deal to escape my sight. Your stiff nature is obvious.”

Tessler believes this marriage was something his nephew did on his own to avoid the pressure of marriage. Lorendis was someone who extremely disliked being entangled or bound. A person like him wouldn’t marry into a powerful family and be tied to aristocratic society. So Lorendis must have chosen an inadequate family to place by his side.

“Did you know it was strange from the beginning?”

“Know what? That engagement? When have you ever obediently listened to me? I guessed as much when you brought in a woman from a rural family.”

Lorendis sat in the reception room with his legs crossed. Tessler remarked that his nephew was consistently crooked.

“If I had known you would turn my stomach again, I wouldn’t have brought it up. Anyone would be upset when someone of marriageable age only wanders battlefields.”

“That nagging again?”

Lorendis pressed his temple firmly with his thick, straight fingers. He was already tired of this conversation.

Although he didn’t visit the imperial palace often, each time he came, his feet were held back and he ended up spending an entire day like this…

“I won’t interfere in your life through marriage either, so you should also stop this unsuitable marriage business.”

“I’m fine continuing as is.”

You! You stiff person! Tessler shouted angrily.

“Your stiff attitude will lead you to see blood one day.”

Lorendis looked at Tessler with cold eyes. Even Tessler couldn’t help but flinch at that gaze.

“What?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did something happen?”

Lorendis stared silently at Tessler. Tessler couldn’t probe further. He simply assumed that another flaw had appeared in a marriage that was full of flaws from the beginning. After a long silence, Lorendis spoke. In a calm yet cold voice.

“The marriage is just a means. I made the decision that was most beneficial to me, and my wife still has things to do for me, so please stop talking about it.”

Tessler closed his eyes and thought of his younger brother. That stiff demeanor and stubborn nature were very similar between father and son. He had told him to settle in one place, but he ignored the advice and set out, which was even heartless.

His younger brother was the same.

Look at that. Those unpleasant eyes…

Did I see something wrong? Tessler frowned and asked again.

“Could it be…… are you serious?”

“About what?”

“Never mind. It makes more sense that you avoided the engagement arranged by the empress because you hated it. You’re not the type to discuss marriage seriously.”

The empress had already tried once to connect her relatives with Helen. Claiming it was to counter the threatening momentum of the imperial family, she intended to bring the family’s influence into the imperial family by connecting them.

Lorendis probably wasn’t serious about this engagement either. Tessler was convinced of this when the woman closed the inner castle gates and secluded herself. The reason Tessler left that woman alone was because he never acknowledged her from the beginning.

So he chose to admonish him moderately.

“It’s hard to see my nephew’s face even once. Stay in the capital for another week. If you just receive the medal and return to Helen, know that I’ll take back everything I’ve given you.”

Tessler clicked his tongue as he looked down at his troublesome nephew. If only his father were still alive, this guy wouldn’t have grown up so stiffly…

“Your father’s death anniversary is coming up soon.”

“It’s the day he went missing.”

“It’s been over 10 years, so it’s right to consider it a death anniversary. Let go of your missing father. My younger brother wouldn’t want you to dwell in the past.”

Tessler spoke sternly.

“Stay in the capital for a week and show your face to people. If you maintain that stiff attitude even in the capital, you’ll be viewed with suspicion, no matter who you are.”

“The master of the capital is you, Your Majesty.”

The head chamberlain brought in refreshments and set them out. Lorendis’s thoughts turned again to his wife who remained in Helen. She said she would invite guests; I wonder if she did.

After the chamberlain quietly left, Tessler pressed hard between his wrinkled brows.

His posture, with lips closed in silence, was oppressive. Although Lorendis didn’t place anyone above himself, such a stiff posture made him easy to break.

Despite being told this fact many times, he pretended not to listen. Your stiff demeanor might be tolerated elsewhere, but here it will only invite hostility.

“Are you listening to what I’m saying?”

“I am listening.”

That means he’s not listening.

His gaze was still directed elsewhere.

* * *

“It suits you so well, sister. It suits you much better than someone insignificant like me.”

Catherine took Emily to the reception room and changed her into a spare dress. It was a purple dress embroidered with silver thread.

Catherine smiled faintly as she neatly adjusted the clothing. Each time her fingertips brushed against Emily’s body, Emily looked down at her sister with an awkward smile.

“This dress suits you well too, sister. I didn’t know purple would suit you this well. I wouldn’t have been able to pull off that dress.”

Emily asked in a low voice.

“Catherine, you’ve changed somehow. Has something happened recently?”

Emily touched the purple dress. She swallowed dryly at the splendid yet elegant appearance.

“Being sick often made me miss my family, perhaps.”

“Is… that all?”

“Is there another reason? I guess I also missed the flower tea we used to drink. With Lorendis being away for so long, his absence felt particularly large.”

Despite hearing this, Emily embraced Catherine with a bright smile rather than showing concern. Since when were we close enough for hugs?

“I’m happy!”

Emily’s fair cheeks flushed red. Her sister smiled beautifully as she touched the lace and embroidery. The various silver threads shimmered softly under the light. The small jewels fixed with those silver threads looked just like pieces of stars.

‘You don’t know!’ Her face clearly showed her jubilation. Her smile was so deep that Catherine almost burst out laughing, clutching her lower abdomen.

“I was worried you might hate me. I was very concerned.”

“You can keep the dress if you like it, sister.”

“Thank you. I’m so happy. This, I really like it.”

The dress soaked with tea was given to a maid. And Emily wouldn’t let this opportunity pass.

“Or sister, would you like to stay here for the night?”

We’re not this affectionate, nor are we sisters who care deeply for each other. Emily was too greedy and frequently coveted things that weren’t hers.

Amanda adored such an Emily and gradually took away Catherine’s possessions to give to Emily.

“Oh my. I’ll come back later. After some time passes, with mother…!”

“Come back?”

“Of course. It’s where you live, sister, isn’t it?”

Catherine almost laughed mockingly on the spot. In this place without me? What are you trying to demand using my name? Catherine smiled leisurely and held Emily’s hand.

“That’s right. Recently, Lorendis has been away often, so I’ve been staying alone in this vast place. That’s why I’ve been lonely.”

“Oh dear. Is that so?”

“If we sisters get along well, Mother will be at ease too. I was also sad after we parted.”

Emily is still calculating. You don’t know? You don’t know, right? You shouldn’t know… There’s not a cloud on that face. If she served flower tea to guests, she probably doesn’t know…

“Sister. Stay here overnight. Okay?”

“Won’t His Grace be uncomfortable with my presence?”

“Lorendis has been away from home for a few days. Hmm? Stay here for a few days.”

“Mother will worry if I’m late.”

“Then, we can let mother know by letter that you’ll stay for a few days. That way, Mother won’t worry.”

“W-well, I suppose I could.”

At Catherine’s gesture, a maid brought letter paper and a sealing stamp. Helen’s laurel pattern was clearly embossed on it.

“You might as well write it now.”

“With your guests here, maybe later……”

“It takes time for letters to arrive, doesn’t it? We should send it early so it won’t arrive late.”

Catherine gently pressed Emily’s shoulder to sit her down and smiled, causing Emily to make a sour expression.

“If I say I’m leaving tomorrow……”

“Rather than tomorrow, stay for a few more days. One day is too short, isn’t it?”

“Well, since we’ve been distant for a while, it might be good to spend a few days strengthening our bond.”

Emily wrote the letter in her handwriting. I’ll stay in the inner castle for a few nights, so don’t worry too much. I like it here. It’s very large and grand. Let’s come together when there’s an opportunity later. Mother, please stay alone for just a few days.

“You’ve finished writing.”

“The address here……”

The maid who wrote down the address stamped and sealed it, then placed the letter on a silver tray. Just as the silver tray was leaving the room…..

“I’ve been told I won’t live long.”

How unfortunate…

My foolish sister.

“Why did you do that to me.”

“What…. does that mean?”

“Why did you try to kill me? I lived quietly, holding my breath. I somewhat sensed this future coming, but…… for my own family to go so far as to try to kill me, honestly, it was too much.”

They say there’s no one to trust in this world, but this is too heartbreaking. It’s too cruel for my family to wish for my death.